Key Thought

John wasn't the light. No, the True Light was going to come for everyone. He wasn't sent to prepare just Israel for the Messiah. No, he wasn't just going to set up his ministry in the desert and have people come to him. The True Light was coming into the world to save all the world. He was going to shine for all people: men and women, slaves and free, Jew and Gentile. (Gal. 3:26-29)
Since Jesus is the true light, since he died for our sins and saved us, and since we are his disciples, we need to ask ourselves one crucial question: "What are we -- what am I -- doing to make sure that everyone gets to know Jesus, God's true Light for everyone?" Let's be a part of letting the world know that God sent his Son to save them! (John 3:16-17)

Today's Prayer

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O Father, give me a bigger heart for those that I don't know. Use me to share Jesus with those outside my cultural comfort zone. Give me a greater sensitivity to those around me so that they can experience your love and welcoming grace because of the way I treat them. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

Before the world began, the Word was there. The Word was there with God. The Word was God. He was there with God in the beginning. All things were made through him (the Word). Nothing was made without him. In him there was life. That life was light (understanding, goodness) for the people of the world. The Light shines in the darkness. The darkness has not defeated the Light. There was a man named John. He was sent by God. John came to tell people about the Light (Christ). Through John all people could {hear about the Light and} believe. John was not the Light. But John came to tell people about the Light. The true Light was coming into the world. This is the true Light that gives light to all people. The Word was already in the world. The world was made through him. But the world (people) did not know him. He came to the world that was his own. But his own people did not accept him. Some people did accept him. They believed in him. He gave something to those people who believed. He gave them the right to become children of God. These children were not born like little babies are born. They were not born from the wish or plan of a {mother and} father. These children were born from God. The Word became a man and lived among us. We saw his glory--the glory that belongs to the only Son of the Father. The Word was full of grace (kindness) and truth. John told people about him. John said, "This is the One I was talking about. I said, 'The One who comes after me is more important than I am. He was living before me.'" The Word (Christ) was full of grace and truth. From him we all received more and more blessings. The law was given through Moses. But grace and {the way of} truth came through Jesus Christ. No man has ever seen God. But the only Son (Jesus) is God. He is very close to the Father (God). And the Son has shown us what God is like.

— John 1:1-18 (ERV)

Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.